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I resisted as long as I could, partially because my understanding of Twitter was somewhere around zero, and partly — OK, mostly — because I thought it was going to be a waste of my time.

I was wrong. Way wrong. Way, way wrong.

After a brief, but intensive education by my friend Jeff Jarvis, author of “What Would Google Do?” and continued prodding by Kadro Solutions CEO Rick Johnson, I completely changed my opinion about Twitter. And I made a plan of action.

I registered. I obtained my name (Gitomer). I tweeted three times in the first 24 hours.

At the end of the first day, I had more than 300 followers. At the end of the first month, I have almost 5,000 followers. At the end one year, I hope to have 100,000 followers.

And I’m doing it without gimmicks, spam or reporting news (other than mine). I have a Twitter strategy and philosophy.

I bought the Web site, www.itweetthereforeiam.com, and immediately posted a picture of me, Tweety Bird (the original tweeter), and a few of my fellow staff members in full “Tweety” pose.

It also has a link to my Twitter page. It’s for fun and attraction. Everything else I do has a link to my Twitter page, especially my e-mail magazine, “Sales Caffeine,” and the front page of my www.gitomer.com Web site.

I intend to use Twitter to provide readers and followers with thoughts, help, answers and information they will find both useful and profitable — useful and profitable enough to re-tweet to their followers.

Here are a few examples of my tweets so far:

The strongest salesman on your team is a testimonial from a loyal customer. Testimonials are proof. Gitomer.

It costs no extra money to be friendly. How friendly are you? Gitomer

The importance of asking the right questions lies somewhere between sale and no sale. What are you asking? Gitomer

There's no prize for second place in sales. It's gold, or go home. Gitomer

The two best places for a sales appointment: breakfast and lunch. Relaxed atmosphere and no interruptions. Gitomer

You will succeed far greater at something you love to do. What do you really love? Is that what you're doing? Gitomer

Prepare to win, or lose to someone who is. Gitomer

Don't set goals, set intentions. Whatever you intend to do will happen. Without intentions, goals go unachieved. Gitomer

If you are consistently blaming other people, guess what, Bubba — it ain't them. Gitomer

If you believe in your company, if you believe in your product, if you believe in yourself, you will march to success. Gitomer

Failure is not about insecurity, or bad luck. It's about lack of proper execution. Gitomer

You control the most important tool in selling: your mind. Gitomer

Friday is the least productive workday. Most people slack off eying the weekend, and then complain about a lack of money. Gitomer

On Mother’s Day, I tweeted: “If you have nothing nice to say about someone, say nothing.” (Said by your mother.) Honor her today, she was right. Gitomer

Notice my name is at the end of each tweet. That’s because those quotes are mine. I wrote them. I don’t quote other people; I quote myself. When I get re-tweeted, I build my own brand and awareness and gain new followers.

Here are a few of my ideas for future tweets. Feel free to use them, or alter the strategy to suit your situation:

Post a daily sales tip.

Give information as to my travels and where people can register for my public events and see my live seminars.

Post information regarding new ideas.

Post personal recommendations of every sort — from restaurants to books, from people to places, from shops to hotels. Maybe even airlines. Maybe.

Ask for information and help when I travel to a new city.

Create local gatherings.

What is Twitter to me? It’s a chance to deliver short personal messages to business connections and friends to let them know what I’m thinking and what I’m doing.

Like today, I tweeted: “Sunday: a day to reflect on what was, what is and what will be.” Gitomer

What are you thinking about today? What are you writing about today? What are you blogging about today? What are you tweeting about today?

Free Git-Bit: Want my best 25 tweets? Go to www.gitomer.com and enter TWEET in the GitBit box. Jeffrey Gitomer can be reached at (704) 333-1112 or e-mail salesman@gitomer.com

Jeffrey Gitomer is an author, professional speaker and business trainer who writes and lectures on sales, customer loyalty and personal development. Contact him at salesman@gitomer.com. Follow him on Twitter @gitomer

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